Coastal Georgia Lodgings

The first Europeans to St. Simons were probably French and Spanish explorers. In 1540 DeSoto began his exploration of the Southeast. He was looking for a fabled city of gold. In 1566 Spain sent missionaries and soldiers to establish Spain’s claim to the New World.

The height of the missionary age came in 1667 when seventy missions served by forty missionaries were active from Florida north to St. Catherines Island. Three of these missions were on St. Simons. By 1687 the Spanish had withdrawn all of their missions north of St. Augustine.

The first permanent English settlement on St. Simons came in 1736, two years after the founding of Savannah. James Edward Oglethorpe had begun a colony in Georgia “for the settling of the poor persons of London.” Savannah needed to be defended against possible attack by the Spanish to the south. Oglethorpe founded the fortified town of Frederica on the north end of St. Simons Island. In addition, a military road was built southward and a battery built named Fort St. Simons. Fortifications were also built on Jekyll Island and Cumberland Island to the south.

In 1742 a Spanish fleet with 3,000 men from St. Augustine attacked St. Simons from the south. Oglethorpe withdrew his men from the battery back to Frederica. The Spanish were led into an ambush in the marsh. So many Spaniards were slain that the battle became known as the Battle of Bloody Marsh. The Spanish withdrew, thinking they had been surrounded by a superior force.
After Oglethorpe’s return to England in 1745, the troops stationed at Frederica were withdrawn. The town declined and was eventually destroyed by a fire. A few settlers remained on the Island to harvest the ancient live oaks.

Cutting of timber made way for the next phase, the plantation era. The rich delta soil of St. Simons was ideal for agriculture. Soon large plantations dotted the Island. Many experimental crops were planted, but it was a special longstaple cotton that proved to be the most profitable. Ready markets in England made wealthy men of many of the Island’s plantation owners. Unfortunately cotton was a labor intensive activity and was only profitable because of the use of slave labor.
The Civil War marked the end of an era. Most large plantations had been destroyed. The houses had been ransacked, buildings had been burned.

There was much suffering on the Island after the Civil War. Share-cropping was tried, but it failed. The recently freed slaves were destitute. Many of the former slave owners deeded small parcels of land to their former slaves and left the area entirely. This was not enough to sustain the freed men and often food had to be brought in by charitable organizations from the north.

It wasn’t until 1874 that economic conditions improved on the Island. In that year a lumber mill was started on Gascoigne Bluff by A. G. P. Dodge. There were four mills, houses for the workers, warehouses, commissaries, a school and even a church. The lumber business began to decline with the over-harvesting of timber. The mill ceased operation in 1906.

Along with the lumber business, the early days of the resort industry began. The present lighthouse was completed in 1872. A pier and many summer homes were constructed. A resort hotel was built at what is now Massengale Park.

By the 1920’s the automobile had become part of our lives. Roads were being improved and the coastal highway was inching its way south. Local leaders saw that an access to St. Simons Island would give a much needed boost to the economy. In 1924 the causeway was completed. It had been built without state or federal funds. The chief engineer was a native son, F. J. Torras, for whom the causeway was named.

The coming of the causeway also made possible the vision of an industrialist, Howard Coffin. He had bought extensive parcels of property on St. Simons after his first visit in 1910. He saw the possibility of developing the Island in such a way that it would attract a special clientele. He began with the building of Sea Island Golf Club. In 1928

The Cloister was opened on nearby Sea Island. The idea was to attract businessmen who would come to St. Simons, stay at the Cloister, and decide to build their own home on Sea Island. It worked.

It was also about this time that another venerable landmark on St. Simons Island had its beginning. In 1935 “The King and The Prince” was begun as a private club. The name came from nick-names given owner/developers Frank Horn and Morgan Wynn by their financier friends. The club offered members one of the most fashionable social rendezvous found anywhere on the coast. The club featured parlors, a ladies lounge, a bar, a ballroom, card rooms and an outdoor palm garden. Extravagant floor shows were staged in the garden.

In 1941 The King and Prince Beach Hotel-Club was opened to the public. At this time 110 rooms were added. Further renovations in 1983 added 55 new ocean-front rooms and other improvements.
Today we can be said to be in the residential stage of development on St. Simons. The wonderful climate and very special people who live here make the Island a wonderful place to visit and to live.